The outdoor exhibition area of Zhuhai Airshow Center in Jinwan District is being converted into Apron 3 of Zhuhai (Jinwan) Airport to utilize space that is not used between biennial sessions of China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (Airshow China).

The 50-million-yuan ($7-million) reconstruction of the 190,000-sq-m (47-acre) area off Airport Road in Sanzao Town commenced June 3. To be completed are 1,906.2 m (2,085 yd) of rails and navigational lighting; firefighting, security, and surveillance facilities; and 13,685.6 sq m (3.4 acres) of road surface.

Parking apron of Zhuhai (Jinwan) Airport [Photo courtesy WeChat account: zhuhaiairport]

The area will make available 10 C-category remote aircraft stands during the months that Airshow China is dormant. It will greatly address the need for aircraft parking space as the airport is undergoing renovation and expansion for a second terminal. The work will also improve facilities for handling of 198,000 flights, 27.5 million passengers, and 104,000 tons of cargo and mail annually by 2027.

The expansion comes in response to surging passenger throughput that exceeded 10 million last year. There are now 1,970 weekly flights connecting the city with 80 destinations across the country, 106 more than last summer. More than half are served by at least two flights daily.

In addition, to improve passenger experience, the airport installed a 5G network as of May 17 in collaboration with China Unicom Zhuhai Branch.